§ 18. Major HUNTasked the President of the Board of Agriculture if he can state for what reason dealers in hay are allowed to charge £7 10s. per ton for the hay they sell, whilst the maximum price that farmers, who have all the risk and trouble of production, are allowed to-charge is only £5 10s. to any purchaser; and, in view of the unfairness of this Regulation, can he take steps to have it altered?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Mr. Forster)I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer which I gave on this subject on the 10th July last to the hon. Member for Somerset East.
§ Major HUNTIs it the fact that farmers cannot sell at £5 10s. to the ordinary purchaser, but is obliged to sell to the dealer?
§ Mr. FORSTERI do not quite follow the Member's question. If the farmer sells direct to the consumer and does his own baling and trussing, carriage and so forth he is able to charge £7 10s. The maximum of £.5 10s. applies to those cases in which the military authorities do the work to which I have just referred.
§ Mr. FORSTERThat is another question.